After every generation of iPhone, it seems that Apple engineers a glass screen that they deem “indestructible”. Yet, as each generation follows the next, the company trumps up its newest glass technology that is reportedly better than before. The truth is, if your iPhone screen was truly indestructible, then Apple would no longer feel the need to change their glass, nor would they market its durability as a selling point.
While it is harder than ever to shatter your iPhone from a bad fall, it will still break under certain conditions, which are easy to come by in our day-to-day lives as we carry our phones from point A to point B. And while your screen may be more resistant than ever to traditional breakage, it’s still going to wear out over time if it isn’t sufficiently protected. Particles like silica, which occur naturally in sand and even find their way into the air, have a hardness factor that much exceeds that of glass. Without a screen protector, your iPhone screen will fall victim to scratches.
Are Screen Protectors Worth it?
Many consumers think of smartphone screen protectors as a frivolous accessory—smartphone screens shatter less, scratch less, and last longer than they ever have before. It’s been shown before that not even your car keys can do any damage to your iPhone screen. However, many consumers fail to appreciate that the metal used in the average car key is a much softer material than any type of glass, so it makes sense that it wouldn’t do any damage to your iPhone or to the windows in your own home. Glass is a hard substance, but it’s not the hardest substance.
Unfortunately, there are plenty of microscopic (and larger) substances out there that will scratch and scuff your iPhone with even minimal contact. One trip to the beach is all it takes to convince most skeptics! Some of the stuff found in sand and dirt will make infinitesimal scratches in your iPhone glass that build up over time. Soon enough, you’ll start to see the damage. And once your iPhone screen has a scratch, there’s no going back.
Screen protectors are a cheap and easy method of protecting your iPhone screen. If you relish owning a pristine iPhone, then it’s simple; you should invest in a screen protector the same day you purchase your iPhone. However, there are a few varieties of protector on the market—they all have their uses, depending on what exactly you want.
Types of Screen Protectors
Screen protectors come in all shapes and sizes. It’s a massive industry with no decrease in demand. It stands to reason that someday, should our engineering technology thwart the problem of scratched and scuffed screens, the screen protector may go extinct. But for now, they stand as the best way to keep your screen looking sharp through the life of your iPhone. Screen protectors can be made from different materials and have different cosmetic characteristics and applications—these features often intersect. Let’s break down the most common materials used in screen protectors.
(Thermoplastic Polyurethane) TPU Plastic – one of the most common materials and often the cheapest. This is regular old plastic, and it primarily protects against scratches. It’s not durable enough for much else.
(Polyethylene Terephthalate) PET Plastic – this is the very same plastic found in most water bottles. It’s almost side-to-side with TPU plastic in that it’s cheap, common, and only protects from scratches.
“Multi-Shield” or “Multi-Layered” Protectors – these protectors use the same TPU and PET plastic like all other plastic screen protectors. However, the plastic is layered, typically three times, which adds some shock absorption as well as scratch prevention. Shock absorption translates into the ability for your iPhone to withstand impact damage from falls.
Tempered Glass – tempered glass is the same stuff as the glass on your car window. It’s ultra-durable through heat tempering and uniformly shatters (it doesn’t splinter or crack). Tempered glass can withstand significant impact. And in the event of puncture damage, better to have a broken screen protector than a broken iPhone screen.
From these various materials, manufacturers have tremendous variation in the cosmetic look and overall application of a screen protector. Here are the most common screen protector types:
Anti-Glare Screen Protectors – This type of screen protector will naturally deflect the UV rays from the sun, allowing you a clear view of your iPhone screen even on the sunniest days. These are great if you’re often outdoors.
Invisible Screen Protectors – Invisible screen protectors are extremely transparent (often thin) layers of either glass or plastic. What they lack in overall protection they make up for in unobtrusiveness and are great for people that need a clear, crisp view of their iPhone screen at all times.
Privacy Screen Protector – Made with polarized glass or plastic, privacy screen protectors are a unique product that provides a clear view of your iPhone screen from straight on, while only showing an extremely dim view of your screen from any other angle.
Mirror Glass Screen Protector – once seen as a clever accessory before the advent of the front-facing camera, “mirror glass” or “mirror screen” screen protectors were made of highly-polished glass or plastic, which enabled consumers to use their iPhone as a makeshift hand mirror.
The Best Screen Protectors for Your iPhone
There are already numerous types of screen protectors, as well as a multitude of applications. However, because the market is so saturated, your head might spin when it’s time to begin to choose which screen protector is right for you. You have to consider materials, application, and even the manufacturer. With hundreds of thousands of manufacturers producing similar screen protectors, it’s hard to choose the right one. Luckily, there are clear biases based on online reviews:
The Best Screen Protectors for iPhone 8
JETech Screen protector
Type: Tempered Glass
These screen protectors are highly rated, come in a pack of 2, and won’t make much of a dent in your wallet. They’re .33mm thick and highly flexible to increase their durability. They’ll protect your iPhone from scratches, fall damage, and light punctures.
Mothca Matte Screen Protector
Type: Tempered Glass
Doubling as a durable tempered glass screen protector and anti-glare protector, the Mothca Matte Screen protector is both highly rated and inexpensive. It’s made of hardy, durable Japanese glass and sports a simple, matte finish that reduces the sun’s glare on even the brightest day.
The Best Screen Protectors for iPhone X
Maxboost Screen Protector
Type: Tempered Glass
The world’s thinnest screen protector on the market, measuring in at just .25mm, the Maxboost screen protector is more expensive than most but offers ultra-clear protection that minimizes smearing from fingerprints. Best of all, the screen protectors are covered by a lifetime warranty.
Supershieldz
Type: PET Plastic
Super thin and flexible PET plastic makes the Supershieldz screen protector nearly invisible when applied correctly to your iPhone X or Xs. It’s scratch resistant and made of high-quality Japanese PET plastic with a bubble-free adhesive that is easy to apply and remove.
The Best Screen Protectors for iPhone XR
Tech Armor Ballistic Glass Screen Protector
Type: Tempered Glass
Using durable, ultra-clear tempered glass, the Tech Armor Ballistic Glass screen protector will protect your iPhone Xr from scratches and fall damage. It also features a milled edge to prevent chipping and “rainbow-free” adhesive to minimize glare and bubbles.
J&D Screen-Only PET Screen Protector
Type: PET Plastic
The J&D screen protector is for iPhone Xr looks for unobtrusive scratch resistance. Made of ultra-thin PET plastic that is precision cut to cover only the contours of the iPhone Xr screen, the J&D screen protector is sleek and nearly invisible to the naked eye.
*NOTE: All of these products are available for the plus models of each device.
Which iPhone Screen Protector is Right for Me?
The question of which iPhone screen protector is right for you is one that only you can answer. It depends entirely on your needs as an iPhone user. Are you looking for something that is ultra-durable and almost as protective as a full-on iPhone case? Then explore options that use tempered glass. Are you concerned with privacy or glare? Then you’ll want to look at screen protectors that focus on those features.
Whatever you do, if you ever plan on trading your iPhone in at the end of its life, then you’re doing yourself a disservice if you don’t invest in a screen protector. As careful as you are, you’ll never completely protect your iPhone from normal wear and tear. Scratches add up and all it takes is one nasty one to completely devalue your iPhone.
You’ll want as much money as you can get when it’s time to upgrade. Most iPhones retail at $1,000 or more and buyback programs value the cosmetic condition of your old iPhone above all else. So, the better the condition of your iPhone, the more money you’ll have to get the newest and greatest iPhone when it hits the stores in the coming year.
